Guzmania plant named `Lambada`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named `Lambada`, characterized by its tall and broad growth habit; arching broad leaves; branched inflorescenes with showy bright red floral bracts and bright yellow sepals; and tolerance to wet media.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Guzmaniaplant, botanically known as Guzmania, and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name `Lambada`.

The new cultivar was discovered in 1989 by the inventor in Erica, TheNetherlands, in a controlled environment as a naturally occurringmutation in a large population of plants of the non-patented cultivar`Festival`. The new cultivar was identified as a single plant withinthis population of plants of the cultivar `Festival`.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar at Erica, The Netherlands, hasshown that the unique features of this new Guzmania plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Lambada`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Lambada` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Tall and broad growth habit.

2. Arching broad leaves.

3. Branched inflorescences with showy bright red floral bracts andbright yellow sepals.

4. Tolerance to wet media.

Plants of the new Guzmania differ from plants of the present cultivar,`Festival`, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Guzmania are taller and broader than plants of thecultivar `Festival`.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Guzmania are more arching and broaderthan leaves of plants of the cultivar `Festival`.

3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Guzmania are more branched thaninflorescences of plants of the cultivar `Festival`.

4. Sepal color of plants of the new Guzmania is brighter yellow thansepal color of plants of the cultivar `Festival`.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalpotted plant of `Lambada`.

The second photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalinflorescence of `Lambada`.

The third photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of`Lambada`.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

The new Guzmania has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements andcomparisons describe plants grown in Erica, The Netherlands, in a glassgreenhouse with average day and night temperatures of 21° C., lightlevels ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 footcandles and exposed to longphotoperiods.

In the following description, color reference are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Guzmania cultivar `Lambada`.

Parentage: Naturally occurring mutation of the non-patented cultivar`Festival`.

Propagation: By cuttings or by tissue culture.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Upright, inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as leavesdevelop. Appropriate for 14 to 16-cm containers.

Plant height.--About 65 cm from soil level to top of inflorescence.

Plant vigor.--Moderately vigorous.

Crop time.--About 12 months are usually require from planting of a youngplant to a finished 14 to 16-cm container.

Rooting.--Tolerant of wet media, but well-drained media is recommended.Time to initiate roots: Summer: About 15 days at 21° C. Winter: About 23days at 21° C.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis.Quantity: 25 to 30. Leaf shape: Linear. Leaf length: 24 to 60 cm. Leafwidth: 2 to 4 cm. Margin: Entire. Leaf tip: Apiculate. Leaf texture:Leathery, smooth, glabrous. Leaf color: Adaxial surface: 137B. Abaxialsurface: 137C.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Terminal inflorescences of 40 to 50 singlecup-shaped flowers subtended by bright yellow sepals and bright redfloral bracts. At base of floral axis, inflorescence is compound andsubtended by showy primary bracts. At top of floral axis, inflorescenceconsists of single flowers without primary bracts. Plants can beflowered yeararound.

Flower diameter.--6 to 8 mm.

Flower depth (height).--4 to 6 cm.

Scape bracts.--Arrangement: Arranged spirally around the inflorescencemain stem. Form: Narrow, very strongly apiculate. Color: Base: Dark red.Center: Dark green. Apex: Dark red.

Primary bracts.--Arrangement: At base of floral axis, one per compoundinflorescence. Texture: Smooth. Color: 34B.

Floral bracts.--Arrangement: Covers about 70% of the length of an openedflower. Texture: Smooth. Color: 41A.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Three fused to form a tube. Only about 30%visible, 70% covered by floral bracts. Texture: Smooth. Shape: Elongate,oblong. Margin: Entire. Tip: Obtuse. Size: Length: 4 to 5 mm Width: 3 to6 mm Color: Adaxial surface: 5B/7C. Abaxial surfaces: 9C.

Petals.--Arrangement: Three overlapping forming a cup. Appearance:Shiny, thin, delicate. Texture: Smooth. Shape: Elongate, oblong. Margin:Entire. Tip: Rounded. Size: Length: 4 to 5 mm Width: About 6 mm Color:When opening: 154A. Abaxial and adaxial surfaces: 154A. Fading to: 146B,after senscence, 147A to black.

Peduncle (at base of compound inflorescences).--Length: About 1 cm.Color: 41A. Angle: About 70° to the stem.

Stamens.--Stamen number: Three with two filaments each. Anther shape:Bi-lobate. Anther size: 4 to 5 mm. Anther color: 152C. Pollen color:Pollen not observed.

Pistils.--Pistil number: One. Stigma shape: Three-armed. Stigma color:141B. Style color: 151D. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Ovary number: 3fused carpels.

Disease resistance: No known Guzmania diseases observed to date undercommercial practice.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named`Lambada`, as illustrated and described.